Corrugating machine



Feb. 14,1928. 1 659166 F. A. scHRoEDER CORRUGATING MACHINE Filed May 20. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l 75 60 l Je 23 32 52 35 ||||lrv| F. A. SCHROEDER CORRUGATING MACHINE Feb. 14, 1928.

Filed May 20. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet .2

lfb. 14, 1928.

F. A. SCHROEDER GORRUGATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 14, 1928.

F. A. SCHROEDER CORRUGATING MACHINE Filed May 20. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fill Patented Feb. 14, 1928..

esente l NlTED STATES PATET OFFICE.v

FEEDER CONCRETE PLLE COMFANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEVJ IIEIELSIEY.y

CORRUGATING MACHINE.

Application iledMay 20, 1926. Serial No. 110,342.

.lhis invention comprises improvements in machines tor corrugating sheet-metal pipes or shells, especially tapered shells such as are used in the construction ot concrete piles.

ln the concrete pile art it is customary 'to mount a shell, usually formed ot sheeteteel, on a collapsible core, drive the core and shell into the ground, withdraw the core, and till the shell with concrete to torm the linished pile.

rlhe shell is simply a convenience in building the pile; it is ot no importance in the finished pile, anl usually rots away in time, therefore it is desirable to malretlie shell ot as thin material as possible in order to save cost. i

However, the shell must be still' enough to resist the crushing torce of the surrounding earth or water after the core has been withdawn and betere the shell has been filled with concrete` To meet the divergent requirements of lightness ot material and stillness, it .has become customary to reintorce. the shells with interior wires, or with interior spirally wound wires partially embedded in coi-ru gations in the shell, vor to corrugate the shells in such manner-as to be independent ot wire reinicorcen'ients. The corrugations are spiral `or helical, in order that different sections ot shell may be readily joined tolgether by scrwving their ends together. rlfhis invention pertains to a machine designed to corrugate shells of the last men` tioned type.

ln some ot its tentures the inachine is similar to the construction disclosed in Fatent No. 1,155,389, issued October 5, 1915, to l-Vainwright et al, which covers a.1nachine ,tor manutacturing soirally reinforced pile shells. l

A.n object ot the present invention is to provide an improved method oit driving the various parts ot the machine.

another object is to provide improved methods oit manipulating and adjusting the operative mechanisms 'in order .to insure more positive and more raoilieration.

Another object is to ,noviue the machine with duplicate corrugating devices onr op pasito sides ot the shell, thereby increasing speed ci operation and thereby balancing side thrusts on the shell and its mandrel.

Further and other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forth in the accompanying specification and claims, and shown 1n the drawings, which by wayV otr illustration show what is now considered to `be the preferred embodiment ot the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front view ot the machine, partly in section and showing a partially corrugated shell inposit-ion.

Fig. 2 is a side view ot Fig. 1, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged `iront view ot the shell, mandrel, chuck and corrugating devices, partly in section. i f

Fig. l is an enlarged sectional view on line el-el ot Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged line 5 5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view ot the top ot the machine.

Fig. 7 `is a view ot the corrugating wheel and its controlling devices looking in the direction indicated by the line 'IL-7 in Fig. 3. y

Fig. 8 is a side view of Fig. 7.

sectional view on the Fig. 9 is a plan view, partly in section, of Fig. 7 f

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 3

The trame ot the` machine comprises principally a hollow base 10, and a head 19. supported trom the base on a pair of columns 14. Extending from base to head are two members 16 which serve as sliding ways tor the two corrugating devices which are designated generally as 18. i ll/lounted 'l'or rotation in base 10`fis the hollow vertical shatt20, on the upper end ot which is carried the chuck 22 upon which is mounted the collapsible mandrel 24, the upper end ot which is guided tor rotation by devices supported by member 9.6 which in turn is supported on head 12. y Mandrel 24 is screw threaded or corrugated in ac cordance with the corrugations desired in the shell. y f

Power' is supplied to the machinethrough shatt 28, supportedtor rotation by bearings BO in base 10. Faston the inner end of shaft 28 is a bevel pinion 32 which drives the bevel gear Sel, tast on shaft 20, thus ro tating chuck 22 and mandrel 24. Fast to shaft 2O above gear' 34C is another bevel gear 36 which drives horizontal shafts 38 by EUR A. SCHROEDEF, OF ROCHELLE PARK, NEV JERSEY, ASSGNOR TO RAYMOND i means of pinions 10. Shafts 8S are supported tor rotation by bearings 4t2 and 14 on base 10, and serve to drive, in a manner which will appear, the vertical ieed screws 1G, one of which is contained within each guide member 16.

For convenience of illustration mandrel is shown in cylindrical it'orm, and me1nbers l0 are vertical, but the machine finds its greatest use in corrugating shells which are not cylindrical but tapered. The machine is required to handle shells ot dilicrent diameters, and ot ditierent tapers, thereto-re the vertical members 16 are settable `to a great variety et positions, in all oit which positions the leed screws 16 must be driven. This is accomplished as follows.

Each screw 16 is mounted 'for rotation in one of the guide members 10, suitable thrust bearings d8 being provided to carry the load of screw and its corrugating device 18. The lower end ot' each screw is provided with a -bevel pinion 50 in mesh with a bevel pin .ion 52 on shaft 511 in bearing 5G (Figs. 1 and at). Bearing 50 is integral with member 00. Member 1G is pivotally supported at 57 by two semi-circular bearings and at 5S on a frame (i0 which is slidably mounted on ways 62 formed on the upper surface ot base 10.

It it be desired to incline member' 1G to correspond to a tapered shell, bolts 04 (Fig. 1), which clamp the lower end et member 16 to trame 60, and bolts (i0, which clamp the upper end et trame 1G to head 12, are loosened, screw (SS is turned to rotate member 10 about its pivots 58 and 57 until the desired position of member 10 is attained, whereupon bolts 64- and GGare tightened and the adjustment is complete.

The center line of pivots 5S coincides with the center line of shaft 54, therefore the above adjustment does not interfere with the proper engagement of pinions 50 and 52.

Pinion 52 is `driven from shaft 88 by pinion 70, the hub 72 otl which is splined on shalt 38 and supported for rotation by bearing 7st integral with trame 60. Normally, trame G0 is clamped to base l0 by bolts TG, hut whenever it is to be moved, bolts T0 and 06 are loosened and screws T8 and G8 are turned with wrenches until the desired setting is reached, whereupon bolts TG and G6 are re-tightened. It will be readily understood from the above description that the driving and setting means are so desigiuul that vertical frames 10 may be readily set to anyk desired position and taper, and that none of such settings interferes with the proper functioning of the driving mechamsms.

Mandrel 2st comprises three similar sectors as indicated in Fig. 10. Each sector is mounted upright on a section of the 3jaw chucl; Chuck 22 is similar to the chuck described in the above mentioned Patent No. 1,155,389, and as the details ot the chuck torni no part ot the presentinrcntion it sulticient to say that when stem S0 (Fig. 3) is acuated with a wrench the chuck operates to move radially the three sectors ol which mandrel 24e is composed. It the sectors are moved inwardly, the diameter ot the maudrcl is decreased, while il they are moved outwardly the diameter is increased.

Then the machine iu operation a lrcmendous inward radial thrust is exerted by the corrugating roller, tending to crush the mandrel. ln order to assist the mandrel to resist such torces, internal supports are pro vided at intervals, as for instance 89 and S11, as shown in Figs. and 10. Si is a 'frustum of a cone and Sel a trustum el. a triangular pyramid. 552 and trl are tied together by rod Sti. in operation, the shell Sti to be corrugated is dropped over the 1nandrel until it rests on pin 00. The mandrel is then expanded by means ol chuck l until the mandrel snugly lits the shell. lllledges 82 and 84:, due to their own weight and the p1 ure oi" coil s lniug 02, l'ollow down into their seats and remain there while the .shell is being corrugated, serving' to support the mandrel sectors against cach other and thereby enabling them to resist bending or breaking. Hardened seats 0st and 0h are provided tor wedgesv S2 and El respectively. After the shell is corrugated, wedges ill and 811 are 'found to be tightly held in position and require the exertion oi considerable force to move them upwards into their nouoperative positions, therefore an air eylin der 98 is provided, as indicated in Fig. 1, by means of which rod 100 :forced upwardly against thc bottom ol:l 811 to raise Sil and St from their seats and permit thc collalising of the mandrel by means ol chuck Q2. Rod 100 passes through the hollow bore ol shaft 20 and between the mandrel sectors (Fig. Il in space provided tor the nirpose.

Projecting upwardly from the top ol each mandrel sector is a sector 102, the three sec tors 10:2 forming a partly cylindrical and partly conical extension which ynfojccts into the socket 10st ot spindle 100, which is provided to hold the upper end ot the mandrel central and steady while it being rotated. Socket 104 is lined with hardened plates to reduce wear, and spindle 10G is supported tor rotation in sleeve 108 by hall hearings 110 and 112 at its upper and lower ends resilicctively.

`Spindle 106 and sleeve 1053 are carried for operation in member Q6 which is l'iinged by a ball bearing spindle 11stA on head 1Q. Meur ber Q6 is hinged in order that it may he swung to one side to permit I .iassage ol the shell through the se1ni-circular opening in head 12. Thilo in operative position (Fig. G) a hoolclilte projection 11G on the t'rcc cud of member 26 engages one side ot a slot 11H til) lilI

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vmember 26 in operative position.

i ot member 146,

in head 12, thereby placing member' 26 in tension trom pin 114 to hook 116 while the machine is operating' and thereby reinforcing head r12 against breakage. Further details et member 26 will be found in Fig. 5. Sleeve 166 and spindle 166 are raised and lowered by air cylinder 126. The flow of air to the upper and lower ends ot' cylinder 126 .is controlled by valve 122 which manipulated by handle 124. lVhen air is admitted to the iuipcr end ot the cylinder, spindle 166 is torced down into engagement with hub 102, and held there. lWhen air is admitted tothe lower end of cylinder 120, piston 126 is forced upwardly thereby raising spindle 166 tree ot hub 102. Cylinder 126 and its piston 130 are provided simply to prevent escape ot air around piston rod 132 when air is admitted below piston 126.

llllren air is admitted to the top yof cylinder 12() it is also admitted through pipe 164 to verti al cylinder 186 in the tree end ot member 26. Cylinder 136 provided with two pistons so arranged that when air is admitted between them one piston is`forced upwardly and the other downwardly. Each piston is providid with a plunger 140, the outer conical ends ot which normally engage conical seats 142 in head 12. So long as pressure is maintained in cylinder 136, plungers will engage seats 142 and hold Vhen pressure in 136 is relieved, springs 138 will torce plungers 14() inwardly, unlatching men'iber 26 trom head 12 so that 26 is free to swing on hinge pin 114.

'The eorrugatingl devices will now be described.

lilounted on each 'leed screw 46 is a split nut 144 to which is attached a box-like trame 18 extending inwardly from screw 46 towards mandrel Screw 46 and mandrel 24 are rotated at such speeds relatively `to each other that the corrugating device is kept in proper relationship to the screw thread-s on the surface ot' the mandrel. Slidably mounted in iframe 18 is a box-like member 146 within which is rotatably mounted the corrugating wheel 148, which is shown with two circumferential recesses or rings, corre V)ending to the double threads on the mandrel. lllh-eel 148 is mounted for rotation on an axis 149 fixed in a member 151 which r' .ie set at varying angles in member 146 in order to provide tor any angle of thread on the shell. Screws 153, passing through :dots in the tlange ot .ineml er 151, serve to hold the member at the'proper angle (lfig. 7).

ln order to ad air cylinders 150 D), there being one a vence or retract wheel 148, are provided (Figs. Band cylinder 150 on each side nd connected theretoby pi. on rod 152 and trunnion 154 tast in outi-.vardly projecting rib 156 `of member 146.

The rear end of rib 156 is provided with a beveled surface 158, and with that surface is engaged a wedge 160 carried on the upper end ot piston rod 162, which in turn is connected at its lower end to a piston 163 (Fig. 7) in the double acting air cylinder 164. In operation, air cylinders 15() torce wheels 148 against the shell, pressing the metal thereof into the corrugations of the mandrel, then cylinders 164 draw `wedges 160 into position to hold the wheels in the advanced position intowhieh cylinders 150 placed them. To retract the wheels from the shell, cylinders 164 lirst withdraw wedges 160 and then cylinders 150 Vwithdraw the wheels. The operation of cylinders 150 is controlled by hand lever 166 through valve 168, while cylinders 150 are controlled by lever 170 through valve 172, air for all cylinders being supplied through a hose connected to pipe 174. The entire corrugating structure described above is guided on planed portions ot members 16 by guides 176, tast to frame 18.. The two corrugating wheels 148 are placed substantially opposite veach other, as shown in Fig. 1, in order to obviate any bending strain on the mandrel. Screws 46 are so driven that the two corrugating devices travel up and down together. l

Mandrel 24 and screw 46 are made of reduced diameters and untlireaded neartheir lower ends at 178 and 180 (Figs. 1 and 2) respectively, so that in case the operator tails to stop the machine in time, wheels 148 and nuts 144 will ru-n onto the `Unthreaded sections and stop, thereby preventing' da1nage which might result it. the threads were to extend tui-ther down.

Ring 1.62 rests loosely in recess 184 cut in the tops of the mandrel v.sectors (Fig. rThis is a` safety device which prevents the upper ends of the sectors dying out dueto .centrifugal torce in ease the machine should accidentally be started betere spindle 106 was lowered to operative position.

Elow that the entire machine has been dei itt-ed. its method ot operationwill be readil` understood. The position of guide members 16 is tirst adjusted `to suit the diameter and taper ot the shell `to be corrugated. ben lever 124 .is moved `to` the position lwhich releases air from cylinder 186` and from the upper end ot cylinder 120,1atthe saine timeadmitting air` below piston 126. This raises spindle 106 from engagement with mandrel 24 and allows springs 13S to unlatch plungers 140. Member 26 is then swung to one side and ashell is lowered ugh head 12 onto mandrel 24 until it i s on 1in Q6. Chuck 22 then adjusted by stem 86 until the mandrel sectors lit snugly aga'nst the inside `of the shell. `ledges 82 and 84 assunjie their operative positions due to gravity and spring 92.

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Member 26 swung to operative position and lever 121i moved, thereby admitting,T air above piston 126 and into 13G, at the same time relcas'ng air from below piston 126. rlfhe air above piston 126 forces spindle 10G into engagement with hub 102, and the air in c rlinderllt torccs plungers 1410 into sockcts 142,

Corrugating wheels lelS having` been brought to the top ot the shell are forced inwardly by air cylinders 150 and there lockedby wedges 1G() actuated by cylinders Then'iachine then operated by power supplied through shaft 2S, rotating the mandrel and teed screws and causing,` the c0rrupatiner wheels to travel downwardly, -torciner the shell into the corrugations of the mandrel and causing it to assume a permanent shape contorniing;r to the corrugations oitthe mandrel. Then the betteln ot the shell is reached by the corrugated wheels the machine is stopped` cylinders 164i and 150 are actuated to withdraw the wheels trom contact with the shell, and chuck 22 is operated to contract the mandrel, wedges and Si havingY first been raised by air cylinder 98 through the agency oi rod 100.

Lever 121` is manipulated to operate pistons 126 and 138 to release member QG, which is then swung to one side to leave a free path 't'or the removal of the shell through the head. Although the mandrel has been collapsed, its diameter is still too great to permit lifting the shell directly ott" the mandrel, therefore the shell must be unscrewed from the mandrel. In the case of tapered shells it is sufiicient to unseren7 only a tow turns, after which the shell may be ltted otl' the mandrel by the overhead liftinn tackle, not shown.

The unscrcwing operation is accomplished by holding the shell against rotation and by reversing,l the direction of rotation of the mandrel. A convenient device for preventing; retrograde rotation of the shell during,r the unscrewing operation comprises the arms 18C, one o't which is pivoted at 188 on top ot each corrue'atinpdevice frame 18. When thc shell is to be held against retrograde rotation. these devices are swungover until their free ends 190, which are shod with rubber or leather, rest against the shell, in which position they permit upward and prevent downward motion of the shell. The reversed motion of the unscrewing operation runs the corrugating wheels to the top ot' the machine, in position to begin on the next shell, when it .is placed in position as already described.

The entire operation ot the machine is very rapid, some ot' the above described manipulative operations talriin;- place simultaneously, and the use ot' the air cylinders enables all operations to be carried out rapidly and positively.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the construction herein spccitically illustrated but can be embodied in other forms without departing 'trom its spirit.

l claim- 1. In a machine oit the class described, in combination, a mandrel comijirising a plurality ot sectors, a chuck supporting the said sectors :tor radial outward movement. a device operating` automatically7 at a point removed from said chuck to lock said sectors in said outward position lor the purpose set Jforth, and manipulative means 'tor disa bling;v .said locking; device, said means including' a duid-pressure cylinder.

E2.. In a machine oi" the classv described, in combination, a mandrel comprising a plu rality ot' sectors, a chuck supporting the said sectors tor radial outward movenient, a device operating automatically at a point removed 'trom said chuck to loch said sectors in said outward position Yl'or the purpose set forth, and manipulative means tor disabling' said locking device, said means including; a `tluid-pressure cylinder and a push rod operated thereby, said rod beingI located between and guided by said mandrel sectors.

3. lin a machine et the class described, in combination, a mandrel comprising a plurality ot sectors, a chuclr supportingr said sectors at one end thereof for radial outward movement, a device normally1 etlective to limit the radial outward movement ot' the sectors at the end removed from said chuck, means for rotating said mandrel, and a safety device for autonxatically limitingr the outward movement ot the last-mentioned ends oit said sectors it said mandrel should be rotated when said normal limiting device is not effective,

4. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a mandrel comprisingr a plurality ot sectors, a chuck supporting said sectors at one end thereof :for radial outward movement, a device normallyY citeetive to limit the radial outward inovement ot' the sectors at the end renmved troni said chuck, means for rotatini:r said mandrel, and a safety device tor automatically limiting;` the outward movement o'l.I the lastmentioned ends of said sectors it said mandrel should be rotated when said normal limiting; device is not etlective, said safety device comprising a ring-shaped member arranged to engage all said mandrel sectors and restrain them against outward movement appreciahly beyond normal position.

5. In a machine ot the class described, in combination, a screw-corrilgated mandrel,

Vmeans t'or rotatingsaid mandrel, a wheel having a rim so shaped as to tit the screv.' corrugation in said mandrel, means 'lor feeding said wheel to keep it in contact with said screw corrugation While said mandrel llll ser

is rotating, and manipulative means including a 'duid device for forcibly advancing said Wheel towardsv said mandrel.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a screw-corrugated mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, a Wheel having a rim so shaped as to fit thescrewv corrugation in said mandrel, means for feeding said Wheel to keep it in contact with said screw corrugation While said mandrel is rotating, manipulative means for forcibly advancing said Wheel towards said mandrel, and a locking device aside from said advancing device for holding said wheel in advanced position.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6, in which said locking device is manually controlled by means including a fluid-pressure device.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a screw-corrugated mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, tivo Wheels having rims shaped to lit the screw corrugation in said mandrel, means for supporting said Wheels for operation at points substantially diametrically opposite on said mandrel, means for feeding said `Wheels to keep them in contact With said screw corrugation while said mandrel is rotating, and manipulative devices for forcibly advancing said Wheels towards said mandrel.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8, in which locking devices aside from said advancing devices are provided for holding said wheels in advanced positions.

lO. The invention set forth in claim 8, in which locking devices aside from said advancin0a devices are provided for holding said Wheels in advanced positions and in which manipulative devices including fluidpressure actuated plungers are provided for operating said advancing and said locking devices. ,i

ll. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, means including a chuck for supporting one end of said mandrel, means including a spindle for engaging and supporting the other end of said mandrel,

`and manipulative means including a fluidactuated plunger for forcing said spindle into or out of engagement With said mandrel.

l2. In a machine of the class described, in

combination, a mandrel, means for rotating A said mandrel, means including a chuck for supporting one end of said mandrel, means including a spindle for engaging and supporting the other end of said mandrel, a movable member supporting saidspindle in operative and non-operative positions, and a fluid-operated device to lock said movable member in operative position.

13. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a mandrel, means for rotating said mandrel, means including a chuck for supporting one end yof said mandrel, means `including a spindle for engagingand supporting the other end of said mandrel, ma` nipulative means including a fluid-controlled device for forcing said vspindle into engagement with said mandrel, a movable Vmember supporting said spindle in operative or non-operative position, arfluid-controlled device to unlock said movable member from operative position, and means causing said Huid-controlled devices to operate simultaneously.

l5. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a mandrel, means for permanently supporting said mandrel atv one end thereof, a device for intermittently supporting said mandrel at the other end thereof, said device having effective and ineffective operating positions, means for locking said i device in effective position, and means independent of said locking means for absorbing the strains developed in and through said device due to operation of the machine.

16. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a mandrel supported for rotation, devices arranged for operation along the length of said mandrel parallel to the surface thereof, and means for rotating said mandrel and operating said devices in 'synchronisnn said means comprising a shaft alined With the axis of sai-d mandrel, ascieW for actuating each of said devices, a shaft extending radially from said axially alined shaft towards each of said screws, means for driving all said radial shafts from a` singlev gear on said axially alined shaft, and means for driving one of said screws from each of said radial shafts.

17. The invention set forth in claim 16, in which means is provided for varying the angle between each of said radial shafts an its corresponding screw. y

18. The invention set forth in claim 16, in which the means for driving each of said screws from its radial shaft comprises a bevel gear on said shaft, a second bevel gear driven thereby, and a bevelv gear on said screw driven by said second gear. i

19. In a machine of the class described,

in combination, a mandrel supported forrotation, devices arranged for operation along the length oi said mandrel parallelto the surface thereof; means 4lor rotating said mandrel and operating said devices in synchronism,said means comprisinga shalt on the `axis or' said mandrel, a screw :for actuating each of said devices, a shaft extending radially from said axial shaft to intersect the axis oi' each of said screws, means `for driving` all said'radal shafts from a single gearon said axial shaft, and means for driving one of said screws from each of said radial shaftsimeans for varying the angle uetween each of said radial shail'ts and its corresponding screw, said means incliuling a pivotal `support i'or said screw, the axis of said pivotal supportintersecting at right angles Jthe axes of said screw and said shaft, and the means for driving each of said screws from its radial shaft comprising a bevel gear on said shaft, a second bevel gear driven thereby, and a hevel gear on said screw and driven by said second gear, the axis of rotation of said second gear coinciding with the axis ol the pivotal support of said screw.

2l. In a shell corrugating `machine, in

combination, a screw-threaded mandrel on which the shell is placed to be corrugated, mechanism for forming screw-threaded eorrugation on the shell while the shell is on said mandrel, means for unser-owing the shell from said mandrel alter it is corrugated, and a device settalole to autorrlaticallir prevent retrograde movement of the shell during the removing operation.

22. The invention set 'forth in claim Q0, in Which said device comprises a shoe arranged to lrictionally engage the surface ol' the shell ior the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereto allix my signature.

FREDERIK A. SCHROEDER. 

